US Creative Work of the Week: Make-A-Wish takes to the streets of Chicago

In celebration of World Wish Day, Gyro and its client, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, took to the streets of Chicago to raise awareness of the organization and extend the brand’s 'Hope is Medicine' campaign.​

The goal was to change public perceptions about how wishes for children work.

"The wishes are for any children with serious illnesses,” said Doug Kamp, executive creative director at Gyro Chicago.

The public campaign took place in Pioneer Court in Chicago with people ranging from firefighters to medal-winning gymnasts inside giant medicine bottles to spark awareness and conversation around what Make-A-Wish can do to help a broader range of children. Research shows that hope for a sick child accelerates recovery time and the goal was to not to fundraise but to deepen the understanding of Make-A-Wish’s work.

“Our job wasn’t to solicit donations, it was to raise awareness that there are plenty of wishes to be granted and to get more kids to sign up,” added Kamp.

An estimated 30,000 people saw the campaign and some in attendance shared their stories of how Make-A-Wish made a difference.

Most of the materials for the campaign were either free or set at a low cost. Costumes, pill bottles and printing were donated and the Pioneer Court space was rented at a very low rate. The campaign also includes print, posters and digital for Make-A-Wish.

For its drive to help grant wishes to sick children, and the positive and creative way it went about the public PR campaign, our readers voted it the US Creative Work of the Week.